Environment sanitation of areas tobe used for disposal of production and consumpion wastes at closed polygons and spontaneous landfills byY means of revegetation

Gribanova L.P, Scientific Production Association “New Ecological Assessment”, Moscow; Morozova O.I, Moscow State Forest Conservation University, Moscow region

Production and consumption waste disposal polygons are environmental facility objects intended for storage, insulation and neutralization of wastes for the purpose of protection atmospheric air, soils, vegetation, sea-floor sediments and surface and ground waters against contamination.

But, a number of operating (or closed) polygons do not meet (or did not meet) the above-listed environment requirements.

Previously, an amount of remains was disposed at landfills and other polygons without engineering preoperative procedures. Any waste disposal problem was the matter of forced and up-to-the-minute decision that, in itself, contradicted, both environmental and life requirements. And yet, as compared to the other methods of waste neutralization, today’s polygon technologies are of great importance.

As per the data presented by Scientific Production Association “NOEX” (“Moscow regional production and consumption waste polygon and landfill cadastre” 2005) and by Opened Company “CPP MO” ("Layout of production facilities intended for collection, treatment, neutralization and utilization of production and consumption wastes within the area of Moscow region” 2006), there operate 51 solid waste polygons within the area of Moscow region. A number of 15 authorized and 42 unauthorized polygons were exhausted and closed. Besides, a number of 51 spontaneous landfills were closed. All the above closed objects need for revegetation.

Many operating polygons and spontaneous landfills are not of planned nature and the ones that have been projected fail to operate in accordance with project requirements. The very factors have been tested, thereby proving that the ones make the above objects negatively influence environment.

Production and consumption waste polygons and landfills are the ones that produce biogas and filtrate generated in the dump layer.

In terms of our data, within the area nearby any polygon or spontaneous landfill all the environmental elements including human beings are subject to negative influence both directly and indirectly (in case of contact with environment elements modified).

For the purpose of environment sanitation, all the areas used for disposal of closed waste polygons and spontaneous dumps need for revegetation.

Production and consumption waste disposal polygon and landfill revegetation is a work package directed to recovery of landfill area efficiency and economic value, as well as to improvement of environmental conditions.

Ecological tension may be eased at the expense of revegetation projects implemented for the waste disposed objects. Besides, in view of growing deficit of Moscow region areas, revegetated territory will make it possible to gain a certain economic effect.

The project of revegetation of Shcherbinsky polygon may be taken as an evident example of sanitation to be held nearby the Moscow regional production and consumption waste-disposal closed polygon.

Solid waste polygon “Shcherbinka” is positioned 3 km to the east of Podolsk (Moscow region, Domodedovsky district), at the third high terrace above the flood plain of Pakhra River. This polygon was arranged spontaneously in 1969 within the area of worked sand pits to have been operated in 1960-1970. The pit depth achieves 20-25 m. The pits are situated in chain off the river at a distance of 400-600 m. Remains delivered to the pits were disposed without any preliminary engineering works.

To the northwest of one of the pits the special purpose polygon of Podolsk Chemical and Metallurgical Works was established.

Shcherbinsky solid waste polygon was closed in 1988.

The results gained upon holding of full-scale environmental engineering research and ecological monitoring proves that for the period of polygon operation all the basic environment elements including surface and ground waters, soils and vegetation, atmospheric air, bottom sediments of rivers Pakhra, Konopelka and Monastirsky, riverbeds and temporary channels were exposed to pollution.

The main source of polygon area environment pollution is filtrate coming from the solid domestic waste polygon landfill mass in the form of anthropogenic flows. Advancement of polluted waters coming from the polygon towards Pakhra River resulted in development of asymmetrically shaped envelope of contaminated water-and-soil environment. As per the data obtained upon examination, it was proved that ecological situation, to have been specified within the area of Shcherbinsky polygon, was of unfavorable character.

Nowadays, the polygon is subject to revegetation that is projected by Panfilov’s Academy of Municipal Engineering. The project consists of two phases: first-priority procedures and complex revegetation. At this time, only the first-priority procedures including surface-planning works, construction of water-drainage channels and protective screen are made.

Now, there is a decision to implement the comprehensive program of revegetation. The first-priority polluted area sanitation procedures including construction of surface water drainage system, construction of polygon overall area impervious screen, reinforcement of special-purpose polygon area with reinforced concrete slabs, waterproofing of ground, construction of “soil walling” structure for the purpose of decrease the ground water level and protection against watering of anthropogenic sedimentation, temporary construction (within the period of developing) of “soil walling” structure for the purpose of collection the filtrate-polluted waters are projected. The northern part of the polygon is projected for construction of a collecting drainage trench supposed for subsequent purification of waters by means of humic acid reagents, reclamation of former riverbeds for the purpose of cleaning and filling with clean soil, cleaning of Konopelka, Monastirsky stream bottom sediment and river Pakhra flood-plain soils, vegetation of plants featured with maximal transpiration rate and polygon passive biogas degassing.

In total, the projected revegetation comprehensive program is targeted to put an end to contamination of environment and, in the first place, pollution of ground and surface waters.

In view of improvement of Moscow region ecological situation, the production and consumption waste close polygon and spontaneous landfill revegetation program is required for development as soon as possible.